Illuminated plastic advertising medium



May 9 3951 E. H. MOHR 2,551,622

ILLUMINATED PLASTIC ADVERTISING MEDIUM Filed Jan. 14, 1947 A0\\\\\\\\\ EDGAR H. MUHR,

Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATED PLASTIC ADVERTISING MEDIUM 6 Claims.

My invention relates to advertising signs and. more particularly to advertising signs illuminated by electric lights of any kind and construction, such as incandescent lights, fluorescent lights, arc lights, or neon tubes.

The object of my invention is to transmit the light of an electric lamp through a solid bar or sheet of clear translucent thermo-plastic compound from one end of said bar or sheet to the other end thereof, or from one point intermediate the ends to said ends.

Another object of my invention is to provide a border made from a solid rod of the character indicated above about an advertising sign and pipe or convey light from an electric source located at any desired point alongside the border through this border.

A further object of my invention is to impart light from an electric source to an advertising sign made from sheet material consisting of translucent thermo-plastic material.

Other objects of my invention may appear in the following specification describing my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention.

It is, however, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited or restricted to the exact construction and combination of parts described in the specification and shown in the drawings, but that such changes and modifications can be made, which fall within the scope of the claims appended heretoi In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational front view of an advertising sign according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fractional perspective view of the border surrounding the advertising sign proper.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to the central portion of Figure 2 but shown in a larger scale.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-43 in Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is an exploded fragmentary sectional view similar to the center portion of Figure 4, but indicating the application of translucent, colored laquer or the like on the worked surfaces of the sign.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the advertising sign forming the subject matter of my invention has a border I0 made from a solid bar of a clear thermo-plastic compound, the physical properties whereof enable it to pipe or convey light from the point of light entry to the uttermost extremities, so that it can be used in place of the popular neon-type of illumination or the like.

This border rod I0 is shaped to fit about the desired advertising message. It is illuminated from either end of the border rod by means of an electric light I l of any desired and prefered type, such as incandescent, fluorescent, arc or neon type. The light produced by these electric illumination means is readily transmitted by the border rod I0 and illuminates the advertising message.

If it is desired to use multi-colored illumination difierent colored bulbs l2 or illuminating tubes are placed at either end of the border rod or at any place along said border rod, permitting the border rod to pick up the light issuing from said bulbs or the like.

The bulbs H and I2 are arranged in sockets l3, which are secured inside a hollow frame It sup porting the border rod Ill. The sockets is are electrically connected with each other by means of a wire I5 adapted to be energized by a source of electricity (not shown).

An electric flasher I6, or an equivalent therefor such as a circuit breaker or a commutator is in serted in the circuit formed by the wire l5 and the sockets l3 to time the flash duration of each color used. The wire l5 and the flasher is are located also inside the hollow frame l4.

Attention is called to the fact, that only one plastic rod in the border is needed to afford multicolored flash illumination, whereas the use of the neon gas tubing limits the illuminating properties to only one color in each tube.

The life of such tubes is a comparatively short one, since they are very fragile and the neon gas content burns out. This would make the replacement by new tubes necessary. By using solid clear plastic rods the only repair process would be the replacing of an illuminating bulb or tube.

Inside the border I0 and secured on and in the frame M a second frame I1 is provided, which has a channel shaped cross section, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5.

This second frame I! surrounds two sheets H] of the same material, from which the border Ill is made. The advertising message [9 is etched into the reverse side of each plastic panel or sheet l8. The process of etching is accomplished by the use of abrasives or cutting tools or instruments. 7

Between the two plastic panels a sheet 28 of opaque material is arranged, preferably made from thin galvanized sheet metal, which may be painted white. This arrangement will prevent visibility from one side of the advertising sign to the other, so that each message etched in one of the sides of the plastic panels l8 abutting the opaque sheet 20 will be readable only from one side of the assembled sign.

It should be understood, that the etched surface of the transparentpanels can be colored by applyingpain'ts or lacquers of any desired color as indicated at 2| in Figure 6. In all cases transparent lacquers are to be used. 1

The three panels forming the body of. the advertising sign do extend only partways into the channel shaped frame l'l, leaving a space 22 therein, in which a plurality of eletiic'light-ZS is arranged in an electric circuit (not shown) the light of which is picked up and transmitted'by the panels I8, and showing the advertising-message 'JISTA sign" comprising a 'frame comprising a channel whose opening faces inwardly, asign b'ody set in said channel with its edges spaced from the web of said channel to definea space extending around the 'edges'of said sign body, lightemitting means in said space adjacent at least'one edge of said sign body, said sign body comprising a translucent material panel adapted to be edge-lighted by and'to'transmit difiused light therethrough from said light emitting meansfsaid panel having surface indentations onits reverse side defining the sign message contrastingly illumined by light transmitted through sa'id'panel'said frame further comprising a second channel surrounding the first mentioned channel, the interior space of said second channelco'nstitutinga light chamber, a continuous bar of translucent material capable of transmitting 'light therethrough when end-lighted, said bar; being mounted on s'aidsecond channel to extendaround said first channel and having a side portion projecting forwardlyufrom said 'second channel" so as 'toafford surface illumination of the'forwa'rd' side of said panel when end lighted, and' 's'econd light emitting means within said light chamber for lighting said bar, said second light emitting means'comprising a light in end lighting relatioh'to an end'of said barn 2; A sign' co'mprising a frame comprising a channel whose opening faces inwardly,-a sign body .set in said channel with its edges spaced from the'web of said channel to definea space extending around'lthe edges of said signbody, light emitting means: incsaid spaceadjacent at least one edge of said :sign -bod y;=' said sign body comprising a translucent materialrpanel adapted to ,-be-edge.=lighted; by;:and'-t'o transmit difiused lights therethrough from said wlight. emitting means, said panel-having surface indentations on its reverse side defining the sign message contrastingly illumined by light transmitted through said panel, said frame further comprising a second channel surrounding the first mentioned channel, the interior space of said second channel constituting a light chamber, a continuous ba'rof translucent material capable of transmitting light therethrough when end-lighted, said bar being mounted on said second channel to extend around said first" channel and having a side portion projecting forwardly from said secondchannel so as to aiford surface illumination of the forward side of" said panel when end lightedfand second light emitting means within said light chamber for lighting said bar, said sec-.

ond light emitting means comprising a light in end lighting relation to an end of said bar, and a light of a difierent color in side lighting relation to an intermediate part of said bar.

3. A sign comprising a frame comprising a. channel whose opening faces inwardly, a sign body set in said channel with its edges spaced from the web of said channel to define a space extending around the edges of said sign body, light emitting means in said space adjacent at least one edge of said sign body, said sign body comprisin a translucent material panel adapted to be edge-lighted by and to transmit difiused light therethrough from said light emitting means said panel having surface indentations on its reverse side defining the sign message contrastingly-illumined by light transmitted through said'panel, said sign body further comprising an opaque backing plate coextensive with the reverse side of said panel, and a second similar translucent material. panel coextensive with the opposite side of said backing plate and edge lighted by said light emitting means, said frame further comprising a second channel surrounding the first mentioned channel, the interior space of said second channel constituting a light chamber, a continuous bar of translucent material capable of transmitting light therethrough when endlighted, said bar being mounted on said second channel to extend around said first channel, said bar having side portions projecting beyond the sides of 'said second channel and reaching to the front and back sides of said sign body so as to produce surface illumination of said first and second panels when said bar is end-lighted, and second light emitting means within said light chamber for lighting saidbar, said second light emitting means comprising a light in end lighting relation to en end of said bar.

4. A sign comprising a frame comprising a channel Whose opening faces inwardly, a sign body set in said "channel with its edges spaced from the web of said channel to define a space extending around the edges of said sign body, light emitting means in said space adjacent at least one edge of said sign body, said sign body comprising a translucent material panel adapted to be edge-lighted by and to transmit diffused light therethroughhom said-- -light emitting means, said panel having surface indentations on its reverse side defining the sign message contrastingly illumined by light transmitted through said panel, said sign body furthercomprising an opaque backing plate coextensive with the reverse side of said panel, and a secondsimilar translucentmaterial panel coextensive with the opposite side of said backingplate and edgelighted by said light emitting means, said frame further comprising a second channel surrounding the first mentioned channel, the interior space of said second channel constituting a light chamber, a continuous bar of translucent material capable of transmitting light therethrough when end-lighted, said bar being mounted on said second channel to extend around said first channel, said bar having' side portions projecting beyond the sides of said second channel and reaching to the front and back sides of said sign body so as to produce surface illumination of said first and second panels when said bar is end-lighted, and second light emitting means within said light chamberior lighting said bar, said second light emitting means comprising a light in end lighting relation to an end of said bar, and a light of a different color in side lighting relation to an intermediate part of said bar.

5. A sign comprising a hollow horizontal base having a top wall, an inverted U-shaped hollow frame having vertical legs resting upon said top wall and opening at their lower ends into the interior of said base, a rectangular sign body comprising a rectangular channel positioned within and supported in said hollow frame, said channel having its open side facing inwardly, a translucent panel having indentations on its rear side with its edges supportably set into the open side of said channel in spaced relation to the web of said channel, a continuous translucent inverted U-shaped bar arranged on the front of said hollow frame and framing said sign body, said bar having vertical legs having lower ends exposed within the interior of said base, first light emitting means within said base in endlighting relation to the lower ends of said bar whereby said bar is illumined, and second light emitting means within said channel in edgelighting relation to said panel whereby said panel and its indentations are illumined in contrast to the illumined bar.

6. A sign comprising a hollow horizontal base having a top wall, an inverted U-shaped hollow frame having vertical legs resting upon said top wall and opening at their lower ends into the interior of said base, a rectangular sign body comprising a rectangular channel positioned within and supported in said hollow frame, said channel having its open side facing inwardly, a translucent panel having indentations on its rear side with its edges supportably set into the open side of said channel in spaced relation to the web of said channel, a continuous translucent inverted U-shaped bar arranged on the front of said hollow frame and framing said sign body, said bar having vertical legs having lower ends exposed within the interior of said base, first light emitting means within said base in end-lighting relation to the lower ends of said bar whereby said bar is illumined, and second light emitting means within said channel in edge-lighting relation to said panel whereby said panel and its indentations are illumined in contrast to the illumined bar, said U-shaped bar having other portions exposed within the interior of said hollow U-shaped frame, and other light emitting means within said hollow frame in side-lighting relation to said other portions of said bar, said other light emitting means being difierent in color from said first light emitting means whereby portions of said U-shaped bar are illumined in color contrast to other portions.

EDGAR H. MOHR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,847,647 Cooley Mar. 1, 1932 1,914,932 Wamser June 20, 1933 1,953,555 Frey et a1. Apr. 3, 1934 1,988,028 Wiedenhoeft et al. Jan. 15, 1935 2,140,972 Rylsky Dec. 20, 1938 2,206,866 Fuller July 9, 1940 2,223,409 Dixon Dec. 3, 1940 2,247,969 Stewart July 1, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 365,480 Great Britain Jan. 21, 1932 401,151 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1933 408,429 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1934 597,477 Germany May 25, 1934 

